11 year old vegetarian

[HappyFace]

My daughter has informed me that she is now a vegetarian! What vitamins and minerals is she missing out on by not eating meat? Answers from vegetarians and carnivores welcome. Thanks

[:Ace:]

Protein probably

[Bluemukka]

Tell her from now on she can cook her own tea, you're not going to make two seperate meals for the family. She'll soon be eating a full balanced diet again.

She will need Vitamin B12 and unless she eats lots of rich greens, she will need iron tablets too. Ask your doctor before giving her anything though.

[noxlumos]

Generally vegetarians don't lack very much in their diets at all, my one son, 14,has been veggie for about 3 years now and takes no additional supplements as he considers his "body a temple" and takes nothing, not even pain killers, and he's a hale heart person.As long as the variety of meals include fresh fruit and veg, eggs, cous cous, rice and anything else you can think of you really ashouldn't have to worry too much, she'll be fine. Vitamin B12 should be unnecessary as long as she eats plenty of dairy foods, eggs etc but just see how she feels. The below site has quite a bit of info.

http://www.vegsoc.org/index.html

[woofgang]

some fairly objective advice

http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/nutrition/vegetarianism.html

[Curious_Me]

Hi I always thought if my children decided that they wanted to be vegetarian I would support this as long as they researched the dietry requirements they needed and how they would acheive a healthy diet themselves and then we would work together with learning how to prepare different meals...I hoped that this would stop them just jumping on the veggie bad wagon and get them to take responsible and considered approach to such a dietry change.

[lion heart]

My husband was veggie for years you need to make sure she gets plenty of veg i know that might sound obvious but my husband didnt eat alot of veg he always looked white and ill but there are alot of veggie meals out there now i would say to get the best go for linda mccartny its not just much in pastry its good stuff you might even find yourself trying some thing as it is quick to cook you can get alot of her stuff in asda at ok prices.

[Minxie]

Hi Happyface, I have been a vegetarian for over 20 years and brought my children up as vegetarians but said if they chose to eat meat, then they can. And one of them does eat meat occassionally.

But they are all healthy kids. A good diet of pulses, nuts and green veg. You can get some really good vegetarian recipe books. Rose Elliott is one of my favourites.

[sunflower68]

Hi happyface, when I was 13 I did the same thing and my mum was really worried. Luckily I loved veg at that age. Please make sure she eats her veg and fruit - many teenage veggies substitute meat with a high fat diet based on things like pizza, bread and cheese, eggs etc. Quorn is very good indeed. I never had a single vitamin tablet and I am a very healthy 37year old veggie. If you can think of the meal you are cooking - how can you substitute it. She can still have the veg/pots/rice/pasta but quorn is a great substitute for meat. She will not miss out on essential vitamins and minerals if she still has some milk/yogurt/a little cheese, etc.

Also a fab chance for her to learn to cook and use her imagination.